Patent GB-457323-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to coin-actuated time-controlled devices
IPC: G07F15/12
Filed: 1935-02-25
Abstract: 457,323. Coin-freed time-controlled apparatus. MILLER, S. L., 1444, South 11th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois, U.S.A. Feb. 25, 1935, No. 5983. [Class 27] A coin-actuated time-controlled device for obtaining on a time basis, services employing electric current, such as radio broadcast service, telephone service, the use of refrigerators, electric signs, &c. comprises a housing 20, Fig. 4, closed by a removable back plate 21, and having four coin insertion slots 27 in its front plate. The housing contains four insulating blocks 28, Fig. 5, each containing an electric switch operable by a lever 88, and a ledge 34 spacing it from the adjacent block to provide shoots 35 for the coins. The blocks are provided with ribs 28a ... 28d to engage grooves 29, 30 in the top of a coin box 22 and grooves 31, 32 in a wedge-shaped plate 33. The blocks are engaged in different grooves to adjust the width of the shoots 35 to the size of the coins to be inserted through the corresponding slots 27, which slots are also adjusted in size by a button placed into one of a series of circular recesses provided at the back of each slot. When the button is placed in a central recess, that slot is completely closed to the insertion of coins, so that the number of coins required for operating the apparatus may be varied. When an adjustment is made, the blocks 28, plate 33 and money-box 22 is slid as a unit into position from the back, and the back plate 21 is then applied. The inserted coins A3 drop in front of upstanding fingers 73 of a plunger 70 which is then pushed in to cause the coins to actuate the switch arms 88 against the action of springs 91. After the plunger 70 is retracted by springs 77, Fig. 5, the coins are held in operative position between the ends of the arms 88, the edge of a movable retaining bar 42, and pins 92 on the sides of the switch blocks 28. After a period of time determined by a clockwork 52, Fig. 8, the bar 42 is shifted allowing the coins to drop through notches in its edges into slots 22a in the top of the money-box 22. The clockwork, which is of a self-starting type, comprises a main-spring 53 wound by a squared spindle 54 receiving a key 55, Fig. 11. The spindle 54 through a pinion 56 rotates a gear 57 carrying a dial 58 and a flanged rim 61 notched at 62. In winding, the dial and rim 61 are turned relatively to a fixed pointer until a pin 65, which is placed in one of a series of holes 64 in the rim 61 according to the time the clockwork is to run, meets a stop 66, Fig. 11, on a lever 44, Fig. 8, controlling the retaining- plate 42 and a coin-slit closing-plate 39. The plates 42, 39 are also controlled by a lever 43 pivoted together with the lever 44 on a pivot 45. A pin 63 on the lever 44 rides, while the clock-work is running, on the periphery of the rim 61 until the dial 58 returns to zero, whereupon the pin 63 enters the notch 62 to stop the clockwork and the rocking of the lever 44 moves the plate 42 to allow the coins to drop, and the plate 39 to close the coin slots 27. When the key 55, Fig. 11, is inserted to wind up the clockwork, it engages inclines 68, 69 on the levers 43, 44 respectively, to move the pin 63 out of the notch 62 and cause the lever 43 to move the plate 39 to slot closing and the plate 42 to coin discharging position. Thus, if an attempt be made to wind up the clockwork before the end of a period, the coins already in switch-closing position are discharged and further coins must be inserted, when the key 55 is withdrawn. In one arrangement for receiving two radioservices from lines X, Y, Fig. 16, one coin slot is blocked, and weekly fee of a shilling and a sixpence must be inserted in separate slots to enable a loud-speaker 95 to be connected to line X. If reception from line Y, which is optional, is desired, a further sixpence must be inserted in the fourth slot, and reception can then be had from either line X or line Y by operating a double throw switch 93.